Sheet-folding machine



Sept. 18, 1 )34.- I P. J. CHllSl'MAN 7 1,974,149

SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Sept. 18, 1934. V P. J. CHRISTMAN V 1,974,149 I SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed June ,22 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gg /ae/%w 573252127522 Patented Sept. 18, 1934 PATENT OFFIQE SHEET-FOLDING MACHINE Peter J. Ghristman, Green Bay, Wis., assignor to.

Paper Converting Machine Bay, Wis.

00., Inc., Green Application June 22, 1932, Serial No. 618,601 H 2 Claims.

This invention pertains-to sheet-folding 'machines, and more particularly to those of the rotary type, as disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,566,079, issued to Peter J. Christman, Jr., and

James Deloye, December 15, 1925, wherein a single fold is obtained by means of a suction roll.

The present invention has primarily for its object to provide a folding machine in which a plurality of suction rolls take the sheets from '10 the carrier cylinder, and progressively fold the same in the desired manner and number of folds.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object resides in feeding a web of paper, either flat or folded upon itself, to a carrier cylinder, where it is severed into sheets and thereafter delivered progressively to a succession of suction rolls, the rolls being so arranged, and the suction so timed, as to provide the desired length and-number of folds.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the 36 claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the 5 practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of an apparatus embodying the features of the present invention, parts being broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate structural details.

Figures 2 to 6, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner in which the progressive folds are made.

Referring now more particularly to the accom- 45' panying drawings, for the purpose of illustration,

an arrangement of suction rolls is disclosed for making three folds in a sheet. However, it is to be understood that this may be varied in numerous Ways, as the invention resides primarily in utilizing a plurality of suction rolls,

depending upon the number of folds desired, for successively folding a sheet of paper, such as a napkin and the like. Also, the drawings illustrate a flat web of paper being fed to the carrier cylinder. However, the web may be folded upon itself by means of the usual V-type folder, without in any Way affecting the operation or principle of the present invention.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates one of the side frames of the machine, in which the various rolls, to be hereinafter described, are journalled. A pair of feed rolls 2 are journalled in the upper portion of the frame 1 and take the web 3 either from a bed roll, or from a V-folding mechanism, not shown, feeding the same to a carrier cylinder 4. The cylinder 4 is provided with oppositely disposed sets of levers 5, which illtlllll carry pick-up pins 6 adapted to be projected beyond the periphery of the carrier cylinder to engage the Web 3 and retain the same thereon until such time as the severed sheet is taken off by one of the suction rolls, in the manner hereinafter described. The cam levers 5 are actuated by a suitable stationary cam 8, to cause the desired projection and retraction of the pick-up pins.

Cooperating with the carrier cylinder 4 is a cut-off roll 9provided with a knife 10 adapted to work in conjunction with a pair of bed strips 11 carried by the cylinder 4 to sever the web 3 into separate sheets 12, as best shown in Figure 1.

The foregoing structure is fully disclosed in Patent No. 1,566,079, and therefore forms no specific part of the present invention, other than in the general combination hereinafter claimed. Here attention is also directed to the fact that the specific structure and operation of the carrier cylinder and cut-off roll is not essential as other conventional structures now in use may be employed.

In the aforesaid patent a suction roll is utilized for removing a severed sheet of paper from the carrier cylinder, whereby the same is caused to be folded upon itself in a single fold, and thereafter fed to a suitable magazine. However, in present folding machines now on the market, wherein it is desired to fold the sheet a plurality of times, mechanical tuckers and folding means are employed, which necessitate complicated, expensive structures, requiring considerable care, and which readily get out of order.

To overcome the foregoing objections, the present invention contemplates the use of a plurality of suction rolls cooperating with each other to progressively take hold of the sheet at any desired point to provide the length and number of folds desired.

For the purpose of explanation, the suction rolls, which are journalled in the side frames 1, and constructed in accordance with the suction roll disclosed in the aforesaid patent, will be designated by the numerals 13, 14 and 15, respectively. Each roll is provided with a series of longitudinally alined apertures 16 through which air is admissible, to the hollow interior of the roll, suction being created in the interior in the manner described in the aforesaid patent, and so timed. as to create a suction at the apertures when it is desired to pick up the sheet, and to release the suction when the sheet is to be delivered to a succeeding roll.

Describing the specific folding operation, as

illustrated in the drawings, in Figure 1 the roll 13 is shown gripping the sheet 12 to provide the first fold a. At the same time the pick-up pins 6 are released from the end of the sheet to allow the roll 13 to remove the sheet from the carrier roll 4. The sheet is then carried to the adjacent roll 14, and as the suction takes hold of the sheet the same is released from the roll 13 to provide the second fold b. The operation of the succeeding roll 15 is the same as that heretofore described, and, as shown in Figure 4, the roll picks up the sheet and thereafter forms the third folcl c, with the result that the edges of the sheet are folded inwardly intermediate the outer folds, while the edge of the fold 1) extends beyond the fold a, thus enabling the same to be conveniently gripped in subsequently dispensing the folded sheet from the usual receptacle or container.

From the roll 15 the completely folded sheet is then carried through a pair of guide belts 17 and delivered to the usual magazine, not

shown.

From the foregoing explanation, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily seen that an extremely simple, inexpensive and eiiicient folding mechanism has been provided for folding a sheet into a plurality of folds, and which materially facilitates the folding operation, thus increasing the capacity of the machine, inasmuch as the suction rolls, which perform the folding operations, are each continuously rotatable in one direction, eliminating reciprocative action and providing for maximum speed of the rolls.

It will further be appreciated that the present invention enables the sheet to be folded in various lengths, depending entirely upon the relative setting of the suction rolls, and the successive timing of the suction, which is diiiicult, if not impossible, in a mechanical folding mechanism.

I claimal. A rotary sheet folder comprising a carrier cylinder for receiving a web of paper, means for severing the web into sheets, a suction roll engaging the sheet adjacent one of its end edges for folding and removing the same from the cylinder roll, a second suction roll cooperating with the first suction roll to again fold the sheet adjacent its opposite end and remove the same from the first suction roll, a third suction roll cooperating with the second suction roll,

to again fold the sheet intermediate the previous folds and remove the same from the second suction roll, and means for removing the sheet from the third suction roll. 7

2. A rotary sheet folder comprising a carrier cylinder for receiving a web of paper, means for severing the web into sheets, a suction roll engaging the sheet adjacent one of its end edges for folding and removing the same from the cylinder roll, a second suction roll cooperating with the first suction roll for folding the sheet adjacent its opposite end, and removing the same from the first suction roll, a third suction roll cooperating with the second suction roll for folding the sheet intermediate the previous folds and removing the same from the second suction roll, and a belt. carried by the third suction roll for stripping the folded sheet therefrom.

PETER J. CHRISTMAN. 

